Latest news with #CliveRyan
The Journal
19-05-2025
- The Journal
'A huge relief': Man who feared fine or jail time over insulation added to house receives planning permission
A MAN WHO was threatened with jail or a €5,000 fine for retrofitting his home has been granted retrospective planning permission. Clive Ryan had put new insulation in the wall at the front of his home in Kilnamanagh in the Ballymount area of Dublin in 2018. Earlier this year , he received a letter from South Dublin County Council telling him that he had to 'cease and discontinue the use of the insulation' and to 'remove the insulation and, in so far as is practicable, reinstate the facade to its condition prior to the commencement of the development'. Otherwise, under the terms of the Planning and Development Act 2000, he could face a fine which can reach up to €5,000, or even a jail term for up to six months. He had received a grant worth more than €4,000 to help pay for the costs from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The other €13,000 came from his own pocket. 'Huge relief' With the help of councillors, Ryan applied for planning permission, which has since been granted. He said it's a 'huge relief'. Ryan believes the publicity around his case, as well as the support of local representatives, ultimately helped him. 'We tried ourselves and I don't think we would've got any further with it … I was down an avenue I'd never been.' Advertisement Ryan says, despite the arduous process to get planning permission, he still recommends people retrofit their homes. 'I think it's brilliant,' he said. 'It brought down our bills significantly.' When Ryan spoke to The Journal in March, he said he found the case 'baffling', explaining that while the insulation expanded the facade of the house, it is not visible when looking at the home. 'It probably moves the house forward a few inches – that's what the insulation does. But that's the only logical thing I can come up with. 'The rest of the house is done like every other house. The insulation is just around the window. It's not a new structure, we tried to finish it as neat and as clean as we could.' While some forms of insulation and solar panels are exempt from planning permission, the situation with insulation for external walls is not so cut and dried. The Green Party is calling on the government to introduce further planning exemptions. 'It's hard enough for people to take time out of their busy lives to begin the process of a home retrofit. Government, including local councils, should be making it as easy as possible,' a spokesperson said. As well as the planning exemption, Green Party want specific grants tailored for neighbours to retrofit together, to speed up retrofitting around the country and lower household energy bills. Mark Lynch, a Green Party councillor for the Rathfarnham-Templeogue area said it needs to be made 'as easy as possible' for people to retrofit their homes. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Dublin homeowner at centre of insulation planning action in clear after council U-turn
A Dublin homeowner facing imprisonment or a €5,000 fine after being told to remove the external insulation installed on his home has secured planning permission from South Dublin County Council – and no longer has to comply with their order. Clive Ryan said he was checking the local authority's website on a daily basis and was greatly relieved to see 'permission granted' in relation to his property, though he has yet to receive full details on the decision. 'It's a huge relief ... the threat of imprisonment shook me to the core,' he added. He spent €16,000 to have wraparound, external insulation installed on his home in Kilnamanagh in Tallaght in October 2018 with the help of a Government grant. READ MORE He received a €4,000 grant under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) programme following completion of the works by registered One Stop Shop provider Churchfield Home Services. Mr Ryan said he believed everything was in order when the work began. 'At no stage was I told I needed planning permission. But unfortunately the company was not aware of what was required,' he said. 'We were blindsided by it'. They hit a wall in trying to resolve matters before local councillors Mark Lynch of the Green Party and People for Profit's Jess Spear 'put us on the proper path,' he said, adding that Churchfield resubmitted plans and technical data, and it went for review.' Mr Ryan said his experience suggested there was a huge amount of red tape to be negotiated and he advised householders doing insulation work and retrofitting to do the research before handing over money. The Programme for Government committed to ramping up its retrofitting targets to deliver more B2 Ber rated homes and to provide improved grants for homeowners who wish to enhance the energy efficiency of their homes. 'This is something we got to reduce our bills, reduce our emissions, and add value to the house, that was the plan behind it,' Mr Ryan said. He said previously he was very happy with the workmanship and his home was now easier to heat and his bills have been reduced. 'You put the heat on for 20 minutes and the house is warm for three or four hours, I think it's brilliant.' After his difficulties emerged, however, Mr Ryan said he regretted having any work done after being told the insulation did not meet planning requirements. While he has applied for retention planning permission twice since first being alerted to this, his applications had come back as invalid. He was in the process of applying for a third time, when permission was confirmed. In December 2024, six and a half years after having the work done, he received a letter from the council saying the insulation must be taken down or else he faced a €5,000 fine or imprisonment. Under planning laws, maintenance and improvement works to homes which do not affect the external appearance are exempt from the requirement for planning permission. However, in the case of external insulation, it is less clear. In response to a parliamentary question from People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Minister for Housing James Browne said that whether planning permission is required for insulation is 'dependent on a number of factors' and said homeowners needed to engage with the local planning authority 'on a case-by-case basis'. The Minister has said this situation is to be reviewed as part of updating regulations. Cllr Spear said the issue 'has caused anxiety and frustration' for Mr Ryan and his family. 'Is this really how we should respond to a homeowner reducing their emissions – tell them they have to take it down or the council will, and not only that but they could be fined and imprisoned?' she asked. 'We should be facilitating people to insulate their homes, not putting up barriers.' South Dublin County Council was asked to comment on the outcome of Mr Ryan's case.
